New York, United States
1858
New York, United States
1839-1846
New York, United States
1764-1766
New York, United States
1843-1846
Washington, D.C., United States
1907-1990
San Juan Capistrano, United States
18th century
New York, United States
1840-1841
New York, United States
1870-1872
Washington, D.C., United States
1893-1913
New York, United States
1847
Washington, D.C., United States
1920
New York, United States
1846
Washington, D.C., United States
1954-1962
Washington, D.C., United States
1904-1955
The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. The name means 'castle of the counts' in Dutch. Arnulf I (918–965), Count of Flanders, was the first to fortify this place, building a medieval bastion on this high sand dune, naturally protected by the river Leie and its marshy banks. This bastion consisted of a central wooden building and several surrounding buildings, also in wood.
In the early 11th century, the wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. The monumental stone staircase, the light openings, the fireplaces built into the walls and the latrines were signs of considerable luxury and comfort in those days. There was probably also a tower.